Medical Jurisprudence, Forensic medicine and Toxicology. Vol. 1Witthaus, R. A. (Rudolph August)
Science
Medical Jurisprudence, Forensic medicine and Toxicology. Vol. 1
Witthaus, R. A. (Rudolph August)
Medical jurisprudence; Poisons; Toxicology
It was only toward the end of the seventeenth century that the
subject was scientifically treated, and during the latter part of
the seventeenth century and the beginning of the eighteenth great
progress was made in the development of forensic medicine in Germany.
Johannes Bohn, one of the originators of the experimental method of
investigation in physiological chemistry and physics, at the University
of Leipzig, was also one of the earliest German contributors to the
literature of legal medicine. Besides smaller works he published two
noteworthy treatises: in 1689 a work on the examination of wounds
and the distinction between ante-mortem and post-mortem wounds, and
between death by injury, strangulation, and drowning.[66] In 1704 a
work giving rules for the conduct of physicians in attending the sick
and in giving evidence in the courts.[67] At about the same period M.
B. Valentini, professor in the University of Giessen, published three
important works, containing collections of medico-legal cases, and of
the opinions and decisions of previous writers.[68] Another extensive
collection of cases and decisions was published in 1706 by J. F.
Zittmann, from a MS. left by Professor C. J. Lange, of the University
of Leipzig;[69] and still another by J. S. Hasenest[70] appeared in
1755.
During the latter part of the eighteenth century, the Germans
cultivated legal medicine assiduously, and a great number of works upon
the subject were published. Among these may be mentioned those of M.
Alberti, professor at the University of Halle;[71] H. F. Teichmeyer,
of the University of Jena;[72] A. O. Gölicke, of the universities of
Halle and Duisburg, who was the first to prepare a bibliography of
the subject;[73] J. F. Fasel (Faselius), professor at Jena;[74] J. E.
Hebenstreit and C. S. Ludwig, professors at Leipzig;[75] C. F. Daniel,
of Halle;[76] J. D. Metzger, professor at Königsberg, the author of
a number of works, one of which, a compendium, was translated into
several other languages;[77] J. V. Müller, of Frankfurt;[78] J. C. T.
Schlegel, who collected a series of more than forty dissertations by
various writers;[79] M. M. Sikora, of Prague;[80] J. J. von Plenck,
professor in Vienna, who published a work on forensic medicine and
one on toxicology;[81] K. F. Uden, subsequently professor in St.
Petersburg, who was the first to publish a periodical journal devoted
to legal medicine, which was afterward continued by J. F. Pyl at
Stendal;[82] and J. C. Fahner.[83]
At this period compends for students were published in Germany, which
indicate by their number the extent to which this science was the
subject of study. Among these those of Ludwig (1765), Kannegieser
(1768), von Plenck (1781), Frenzel (1791), Loder (1791), Amemann
(1793), Metzger (1800), and Roose may be mentioned.
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